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Dec 15, 2021Liked by Katie Hawkins-Gaar

I would love for the newsletter to support an animal charity! My cats have been such a help in the difficulty of these last two years and I know they can be really comforting for those struggling with grief. The rescue org I got my second cat from, Animal Welfare League of Arlington, is one of the few out there that specializes in neonatal kittens and they do wonderful work saving tiny babies! My cat Dilly and her four siblings were taken in at 2 days old by them.

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Yes! I've already got one reader-nominated animal rescue on the list. I'll add this one as well. Thanks, Shira!

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Dec 14, 2021Liked by Katie Hawkins-Gaar

Well put.

Congratulations on making another year with your newsletter. I really enjoy it.

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Thank you, Sarah! That means a lot ❤️

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Thank you for sharing this. Second time in a week someone has said to me that year 2 was in some ways harder than year 1, though in my case it's about losing a parent. I've spent year 1 (with the anniversary arriving in a month and both I and my dad dreading it) largely focused on taking care of my dad. My friends said to me at some point in year 2 it will really hit you finally and that feels right.

Lots of love to you! Navigating all of this during the pandemic has surely been harder.

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Oh, good luck facing such a hard anniversary. I’ve always found that the lead-up to those dates are the hardest. I’m sending you lots of love and strength as you navigate what’s ahead.

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Thank you. That's my feeling actually - I was listening to a podcast (Dr. Laurie Santos, "The Happiness Lab") where she said we anticipate that unpleasant things will be much worse than we often experience them (we also anticipate that positive things will be more positive than we experience them) and I've been holding onto that thought that the anticipation might be worse than the actual thing.

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